Weft-detecting mechanism for looms.



E. H. RYON.

WEFT DETECTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATlON HLED 050.29, 19w.

1,205,791, Patented Nov. 21, 1916.-

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

E, H. RYON.

WEFT DETECTING MECHANISN FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATOH FILED DEC. 29 9]5- i$$5fi91 a Patented Nov, 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

MIL Hunk, nnms Cu mmm unm. WAsHhVh/Jh. nv c snares N FFTC EIPPA H. RYON,OF WAL'IHAIVI, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 QBOMPTON & KNOWLES 1300MWORKS, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORIORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS.

THEFT-DETECTING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

mower.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1216.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that L'EPPA' H. Bron, a citiState of Massachusetts, have invented a new,

and useful Weft-Detecting Mechanism for Looms, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a weft detecting mechanism for'looms, ofthetype in which a plurality of separate independently movable weftdetecting members are used a de vice of this general type being shown inmy prior application No. 413,089, filed August 2,1915.

It is the object of my present invention to adapt this type of weftdetecting mechanism to a loom in which the actuator which con trols thetransfer mechanism has a definite and unchanging cycle of movement.

With this object in view one feature of my invention relates to theprovision of a connecting member through which the actuator may controlthe transfer mechanism, and to the further provision of weft-controlleddevices for placing said member in operative or inoperative position.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown, the connecting memberrests upon. a support which is movable to carry said member intooperative and inoperative positions, said support being moved in onedirection by the actuator and in the opposite direction by a spring orits equivalent. The spring-actuated movement of the support is under thecontrol of the several weft detectors and can only occur when all of thedetectors engage a sufiicient weft supply in the active shuttle, saiddetectors being thereby moved out of the path of an arm connected to andmovable with said support.

Other features of my invention relate to certain arrangements andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and moreparticularly. pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention and a modification thereof are shown inthe drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the preferred formof my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the detecting mechanism;Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aside elevation partly in section taken along the line 4.1 1n Fig. 1;Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable support for the connectingmem ber, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form ofoperating mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, a portion of the loom frame is indicated at 10,supporting the usual filling fork 1.1, mounted upon the filling forkslide 12. When the filling fork indicates a break in the filling, itengages a reciprocating actuator 13 (Fig. i) and is moved forward. (orto the right in said figure). In its forward movement it engages an arm11 secured to a rock shaft 15 mounted in bearings on the frame 10 andconnected to the transfer mechanism. These parts constitute no part ofmy invention and may be of any usual or preferred form.

A. connecting member 16 is pivoted to the arm 14 at its upper end andthe free end of the connecting member is provided with a notch 16adapted to engage a stud 17 carried by the actuator 13. The connectingmember 16 is vertically positioned by a supporting arm 18 secured to ahorizontal shaft the spring being secured to the bearing 21 and theother end being fixed in a collar 23 adjustably mounted upon the shaft19. The tension of the spring is such that it tends to move the shaft 19in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 41.

The supporting arm 18 (Figs. 4 and 5) is provided with a straightportion 18 engaging the connecting member 16 and with a cam-shapedextension 18 engaging the stud 17, as the actuator is moved rearwardly.When thus engaged, the notch 16 of the connecting member is positionedfor engagement by the stud 17 in its succeeding forward movement. Undernormal conditions the spring 22 will cause the camshaped projection 18of the supporting arm to continuously engage the stud 17 thus raisingthe arm as the stud moves forward and carrying the notch 16* of theconnecting member above the path of the stud 17. The 7 and theconnecting member when the weft in the active shuttle becomessubstantially exhausted.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a short shaft or stud 25 is fixed in thelower portion of the bearing bracket 21, extending laterally therefrom.An arm 26 is clamped to the stud 25 and is both angularly andlongitudinally adjustable thereon. The arm 26 is provided with a secondshort shaft or stud 27 secured in its upper end, and a weft detectorstand or support 28 is adjustably clamped to the stud 27. The severaladjustable connections above described permit the weft detectingmechanism to be accurately located and firmly held in any desiredposition.

A series of separate and independently movable weft detectors 30 aremounted to slide freely in the stand 28, said detectors being each bentat its front end to form an upwardly extending portion 30 and arearwardly extending portion 30 The portions 30 are'engaged by a pivotedplate 31 (Fig. 2) mounted upon a rod 32 and pressed against thedetectors by a spring 33. The detectors 30 are thus normally maintainedin the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The arm 35 (Fig. 2) is adiustably clamped to the left-hand end of theshaft 19 and a bar 36 is secured to the end of the arm 35, said barbeing adjustable in a slot 35 (Fig. 3) in said arm, The arm 35 and thebar 36 move upwardly in unison with the supporting arm 18 previouslydescribed and the path of movement of the bar 36 is such that it willengage the portions 30 of the weft detectors when they are in the normalposit-ion shown in Fig. 3. Such engagement prevents further movement ofthe shaft 19 and the supporting arm 18 by the spring 22, thus retainingthe notch 16 of the connecting member 16 in the path of the stud 17.Upon its next forward movement, the stud 17 engaging the notch 16 willmove the arm 14: and partially rotate the shaft 15, thus placing thetransfer mechanism in operation.

lVhile my improved weft detecting mechanism may be used with anysuitable form of weft carrier or bobbin, it is particularly designed foruse in combination with a bobbin of the form shown and described in myprior application Ser. No. 13,089 above referred to. The bobbin. thereindescribed is provided with a plurality of small holes extending throughthe wall of the cylindrical barrelof the bobbin and so positioned thatone or more of the weft detectors 30 will. be alined with and will passthrough these holes as soon as the weft is sufficiently exhausted to,uncover the holes. Such detectors will remainin their rearward position,as shown in Fig. .3, thus preventing, the spring-actuated movement ofthe shaft 19 and supporting arm 18 by which the connecting member isnormally moved to inoperative position. Until the weft supply issubstantially exhausted, all of the weft detectors will be movedforwardly by the weft carrier as the lay beats up, thus clean ing thebar 36 and permitting unobstructed movement of the shaft 19.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the operation is substantially thesame as that already described, but the details of the mechanism areslightly changed. The arm 14, the shaft 15, and the stud 17 arepositioned and oaerated substantially as previously descri ed. Theconnecting member 160 merely differs in outline from the member 16 andis provided with a notch 160 adapted to engage the stud 17. Thesupporting arm 180 is formed as an integral part of a lever 181pivotedupon a stand 182 upon the bearing bracket 210. A spring 220 isprovided for raising the supporting arm 180 and the lever 181 is formedwith an extension 185 positioned to engage the portions 30 of the weftdetectors as previously described. A further description of theoperation of this modification is considered unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention it will be evident that other changesand modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof as set forth in theclaims, and I do not wish to be otherwise limited to the details hereindisclosed.

What I claim is 1. A weft detecting mechanism for looms having, incombination, a transfer mechanism, an actuator, a connecting memberthrough which said actuator may set said transfer mechanism inoperation, said member being normally in operative position, means tomove said member to inoperative position relatively to said actuator,means to thereafter restore said member to operative position, and aplurality of separate weft detectors each effective to prevent themovement of said member to inoperative position whenever said detectoris. not engaged by a suflicient weft supply in the active shuttle,

upon each alternate forward beat of the lay.

2. A weft detecting mechanism for looms having, in combination, atransfer mechanism, an actuator, a connecting member. through which saidactuator may set. said transfer mechanism in operation, a support forsaid member movable by said actuator mto operative position, meansefiective to withdraw said support, and a. plurality of weft detectingdevices, each effective to independently control the movement of saidsupport by said means.

A Weft de c ing mech nism r l om having, in combination, a transfermechanlsm, an actuator, a connecting member through which said actuatormay set said transfer mechanism in operation, a support for said membermovable in one direction by said actuator to place said member inoperative position, means for moving said support in the oppositedirection, and a plurality of separately movable weft detectors, saiddetectors being moved out of the path of said arm by engagement with asuflicient weft supply to the active shuttle.

4. A weft detecting mechanism for looms having, in combination, atransfer mechato engage said actuator, a support for saidmember, meansto move said support, from operative position, and means to thereafter arestore said support to operative position, said first mentioned meansbeing rendered inoperative whenever any one of said detectors indicatesubstantial exhaustion of Weft in the active shuttle.

6. A weft detecting mechanism for looms having, in a combination, aplurality of separate weft detectors, an actuator, a transfer mechanismhaving a member normally positioned to engage said actuator, a pivotedsupport for said member movable in one direction by said actuator and aspring for moving said support in the opposite direction, said supporthaving an arm connected therewith and movable adjacent said detectors,said arm being engaged by one or more of said detectors upon substantialexhaustion of weft in the active shuttle, Whereby operation of saidspring to move said support is prevented.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EPPA H. RYON.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

